Mission Impossible for Anna?

Is Anna the Ethan Hunt of the Impossible Missions Force for India? I asked myself the question after watching the fourth in the series of the Mission Impossible movie that stars the extremely delectable Tom Cruise in the lead. Forget the physical comparisons (silly!) between Anna and Hunt; focus on their mental strengths instead. These are two intensely motivated individuals. Both Anna and Hunt are determined to fight what seemingly always looks like a battle that is being played at the very edge of an open window on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa for an audience that is insanely chewing off it’s nails in anticipation! We the public also dually play the role of the electromagnetic gloves for Anna who is perilously latching on to us for support while he desperately tries to scale the walls of Parliament and tries to oppose the Government’s version of the bill without spinning into a free fall. And support we shall even if the left glove is not in synch with the right and even if we may be low on battery occasionally. (Given the poor turnout in Mumbai)

The see saw ride over the Lokpal bill is underway and the public is not only increasingly frustrated but also on the tethering end of it’s patience. The antagonists in Parliament are not thankfully launching nuclear arsenal via satellite technology (Ironically, in the movie, the missile is launched from Sun Network!) but instead, trying hard to annihilate the will of the people. We just want a strong anti corruption law and we are fed up with the stupid cat and mouse games that are being played out by those in governance. Just like the way Ethan Hunt and his dedicated team have been putting their head, tail et all on the chopping block to save their beloved country from an impending nuclear strike, so have Anna and his team who are trying to save us from the rot dispensed by corrupt officials despite Anna’s failing health.

Then there is so called ‘comic relief’. In the movie, Anil Kapoor (Brijnath) plays a rather idiotic rich Indian tycoon and appears in a three-minute role drooling over a ‘strong’ woman. So does Lalu in Parliament. Somebody like Lalu cannot have a grander stage than that of a Parliament for his ridiculous monologues. Yes, we have more reasons than one to blame ourselves when we see the likes of portly Lalu donning the role of the chief court jester and trying his best to make Mrs. Sonia Gandhi smile. But, it looks like most members of the Government have only this sycophancy intent and it would be unfair to isolate Lalu who holds a Masters in the ‘art of fawning’. The Lok Sabha sessions at times have looked like a well-rehearsed performance in a circus act and one is absolutely aghast, disgusted and horrified at the quality of the people who represent us and take to the floor.

The Lokpal bill may have sailed through Lok Sabha but it is the Rajya Sabha that decides the fate of the bill that has been amply modified by the Government to give it its current shape and form and ignores key demands made by Anna. It’s current shape and form being as ludicrous as Kannada hoardings that appear out of nowhere in a Mumbai car park in the movie. Given the laid back attitude of the Members of Parliament that has resulted in a rather insipid debate in parliament over the bill, it is easy to conclude that Team Anna and the frustrated citizens have an uphill task to tackle the opposition forces to the Jan Lokpal. The team have to accomplish their mission despite shapely women turning into deadly assassins from time to time. The “Mission” being, Anna and his team have to infiltrate Parliament one way or the other and introduce a strong Lokpal. Will they or wont they is the question? It was easier for Hunt to infiltrate the Kremlin. Lets hope there is no ‘ghost protocol’ that gets triggered and Team Anna is disavowed from it’s mission. But, for now I strongly believe that so long as there is Anna to ‘Hunt’ the villains, there is hope, even if there is a blinding sand storm that is coming our way.

Author

Sharmila Ravinder is a qualified Accountant with a Finance background and has spent a good part of her life studying and working in India and Australia. She observes the dynamics of this versatile world and its effect on our day-to-day lives. She writes about the changing social, political and cultural climate in India and abroad. She immensely enjoys engaging in debates that encourage multiple narratives. A passionate animal lover, an avid traveller and a movie buff, she gleefully pens her thoughts in prose and sometimes in poetry too. A cat lover and always on the prowl, she has a keen eye for ordinary and extraordinary issues. She also blogs on www.sharmilasays.wordpress.com
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Sharmila Ravinder is a qualified Accountant with a Finance background and has spent a good part of her life studying and working in India and Australia. She. . .